February 21, 2008 – One of the smallest countries in the world, Singapore has won the right to host the first Youth Olympic Games in 2010, following an intense bidding campaign and a vote by the members of the International Olympic Committee.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joined a crowd of 5,000 at The Padang in Singapore to hear the announcement broadcast live from Lausanne, Switzerland by IOC President Jacques Rogge. There were cheers and tears of joy among the students, teachers, athletes, coaches, sports officials and politicians who had been waiting for the news. Singapore won the hosting rights with 53 votes compared with 44 votes for Moscow.
Originally nine countries submitted proposals for the 2010 YOG, with Moscow and Singapore emerging as strong early leaders. Both cities continued to refine their programs and survived the shortlisting to become the final two candidates in the bidding. Rogge, who has long championed the concept of the Youth Games, said: “Hosting the Youth Olympic Games for the first time is a great responsibility, and I have every confidence in the team in Singapore.”
Prime Minister Lee warmly praised Singapore’s ‘team’ by describing it as more than a national effort, “it was a people’s effort.” The Prime Minister said the people of the nation came together to support Singapore’s bid, from the country’s youth to its business leaders to the average man on the street. Indeed, a taxi driver wrote on his own initiative to the IOC, explaining why Singapore should be given the nod.
Recognition was also given to the extensive work done over the past seven months by Singapore’s official bid committee, led by Mr. Ng Ser Miang, vice president of the Singapore National Olympic Council and an executive board member of the IOC. The Prime Minister also noted that Teo Ser Luck, the parliamentary secretary from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, had been “living, sleeping, dreaming (the) five circles.”
The inaugural Youth Olympic Games will be held in Singapore in August 2010. Some 3,200 athletes, aged 14-18 years old, are expected to come from around the world to compete in 26 sports.
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